How to choose a yoga teacher training abroad

If you are thinking of going abroad to do your 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training there are some things you should consider before paying your deposit. In this post, I will go through some key areas to consider and give you the lowdown on my top 5 countries.

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Style of Yoga

This is a really important point to consider. If you want to study a more generic form of yoga then choosing an Ashtanga Vinyasa course is a steady option. But there are so many different styles of yoga out there don’t be afraid to do some extra research and find the style that best suits you.

I personally practice Ashtanga, however, my teacher training was in Ayurveda and Shivananda Hatha Yoga. It really was the perfect course for me and I had never even heard of it until researching teacher training. If you find something you like the sound of then see if there are any classes in your local area and got an try one out.

Ratio of Practical to Theoretical

Some courses are weighted more to the practical than others. If you already have a strong practice and some teaching experience then you may want to consider a more theory-heavy course with lots of spiritual and philosophy classes. Ask to look at an example timetable before you make up your mind.

Accommodation

Is accommodation included? If it isn’t then before you go any further do some research into accommodation the local area and make sure that accommodation is available in your price range. Although I’m normally a dorm bed girl, I actually really (really) appreciated having my own room on YTT. Especially as I was studying Ayurveda and giving myself morning oil massages! For me, it was worth paying a little more and being close to the school with my own bed. The hours are long and full, having a good space to rest is essential.

Food

If you choose an all-inclusive Yoga Teacher Training then most likely food will be included. I would strongly recommend this option if possible. For me, this was the hardest thing as I was so tired I just didn’t want to cook! Be prepared to eat a clean Satvic (no meat, eggs, sugar, onions or garlic!) for the whole course. I actually felt fantastic for eating so well and continued to cut Rajistic foods mostly out of my life. I still eat garlic and onion when I’m eating out but I never cook with them now at home.

Teacher Experience

Check Out your teachers. Who are they, where have they worked? What do they believe in, and most importantly what can they teach you. You will be spending a lot of time with your teachers over the training so this is very important and a lot of people don’t think to check this.

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Country

Is there a country that you really want to visit? Or somewhere you really don’t want to go? You also need to take into consideration cost of flights. India is often the cheapest place to do teacher training. However, if the flights are twice as much as they are to Costa Rica then it may be financially better to go to Costa Rica. Many teachers work internationally so it’s worth contacting people to find out where they will be running teacher training and match up with a country you want to go to.

My Top 5 countries (in no particular order)

Mexico

This is where I studied. It’s cheap to get to as there are so many international airports. The cost of living is cheap and if you study with Yoga Veda in Ajijic it’s the perfect temperature all year round. Sunny but not too hot! It’s also a great place to stay for a while after and take some time to explore.

Costa Rica

The Central Americal home of the yogi. Costa Rica is full of Ashrams offering teacher training with international teachers. Cost of living is high compared to other places and transport is expensive. But it really is a beautiful place and if you do train here you must take at least a week to do some exploring on the coast or in the rainforest!

Guatemala

Now I know Guatemala might not be on the top of your list, but here are some reasons why it should be! It’s a beautiful country. It’s cheap to travel around and I couldn;t think of a better place to study than Lake Atitlan. That place isn’t called a vortex for nothing. You could also easily see the sights of Guatemala in a week after your YTT without needing to spend much money!

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Bali

The Oceanic home of Yoga. Like Costa Rica, Bali is also full to the brim of Ashrams offering teacher training with international teachers. If you know who you want to study with it’s very likely they will host a Yoga Teacher Training in Bali at some point during the year! If it’s luxury you are looking for and money’s no object then choose Bali.

India or Goa

The actual home of yoga. Traveling to India is something every good Yogi needs to do at least once (I’m going in 2019) but not everyone chooses to do their teacher training here. Although doing your training somewhere like Rishikesh you are possibly going to get a more authentic experience. You are going to have to forgo a lot of western comforts. If you want to go to India but would like a little more luxury then look for a training in the North of India or opt for Goa which is very different to India.

I hope this post has helped shine some light on things to consider before undertaking Yoga Teacher Training. I took my teacher training with Yoga Veda Institute in Mexico and I really can’t recommend them enough! They run Teacher Trainings and Retreats all over the world as well as offering a large program of online courses (including a FREE Ayurveda Course). Feel free to PM me to ask any questions!

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